The Difference Between Cement, Concrete, and Mortar Explained in 2 Minutes

Experienced builders are plenty familiar with when to use cement, concrete, and mortar. But in the popular parlance, things get a bit confused—people often say "cement" when what they really mean is concrete, or think that cement is the stuff between bricks in a wall.

Thank goodness the guys from This Old House made this helpful two-minute clip in which they remind you of the differences. Cement is a powder that hardens when you add water. The most common kind, Portland cement, is an ingredient in both concrete (a mixture of cement, sand, and stone) and in mortar (a mix of cement, sand, and lime that's actually softer than cement when it hardens).